Key-socket.



H. J. MORFEY.

KEY SOCKET.

APPLHZATIUN HLED AUG.3. 1915.

1,262,969. Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY J. MOREY, O1 SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO PASS & SEYMOUR, INC., 0! SOLVAY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

KEY-SOCKET.

Specification 0! Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

Application filed Augult 8, 1818. Serial No. 112,976.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY J. MOREY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Syracuse, county of Onondaga, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Sockets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric applinnccs and more articularly to improvements in key soc ets. The object is to simplify the construction of key sockets and provide a structure in which the fixed and moving parts of the device are held on the single piece orcela-in base in a novel manner, which eliminates extra devices for holding the parts in place. The above and other objects and the novel feature of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawing in which, I

Figures 1 and 2 are side views of a. lamp socket embod ing my invention, hem taken at right anglizs to each other and t e out side shell being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a top lan view of the same the porcelain base being shown in dotted knee to illustrate the position occupied by the switch mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the same;

Fig. 5 is :1. vertical central. section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, parts thereof being shown in elevation and an open position of the switch being shown in dotted lines; and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views of details of the device.

The socket has a base 10 which consists of u single piece of porcelain or other snitnblc insulating material and is closed at the top end. At the lower end the base has a cavity 11 therein in which the switch mechanism is located. The ca ity in the base has two alined circular recesses 12 and 13 which are located on opposite sides of a chamber 14. The recesses 12 and 13 constitutc bearings for the operating spindle 15 which fits therein and which cz'rrries on insulatin}; key 16 at its outer end. The spindle 15 is rovided with two lugs 17 on opposite si es thereof which have a. loose connection with a hollow oblong cam 18 in the well known manner. The cam member 18 is rotated whenthe s indie 15 is turned and operates in the c amber 14.

The lugs 17 lock the cam 18 on the spindle 15 and the cam prevents the withdrawal of the spindle since it will engage against the wall 141 of the chamber 14: when the spindie is ulled downwardly. There are two other c embers 19 and 20 on opposite sides of the chamber 14 which open in opposite sides of the outer face of the base 10.

The base 10 has a disk 21 of insulating material, such as fiber secured over the lower side of the cavity. The fiber disk 21 carries the usual center spring contact 22 on its outer side and on its inner side it carries a spring switch member 23. T he center coir tact 22 and the switch member 23 are secured to the fiber disk .21 by a single hollow rivet 24 which engages one end of each of the springs. The center contact. has a projection 221 at its fixed end which extends into an opening 211 in the disk 21 to keep the contact from turning.

l he spring switch member 23 consists of a single strip of resilient, conducting materinl such as copper. The strip is doubled on itself to form an upright part 25 and a bent part 26 the latter abutting against the spindle 15 andngeinstshoulders 27, adjacent the bearing recess 13, thereby holding the spindle in the bearing recesses 12 und 113. The free end of the switch member 523 extends centrally through the cavity and into the chamber 19 ht-re it is moved by the cam member 18 into oug'ngcmcnt with the conductin plate 28. The unsiliciu-y of the bent switc member restores it to open position, indicated in dotted lines. when the spindle is turned a quarter turn in either direction. The cam allows the switch to work with a snap action, as is well known. The bottom of the chamber 19 forms a stop for the spring switch.

The conducting plate 2% has a curved part 29 at one end fitting into and locked in a curved recess 30 in the bottom face of the base 10. The plate 28 extends across the chumbrrl!) into n recess 31 in the base and on the opposite side of the rhumher and at that end the plate is bent down wardly to form an integral terminal piste 32 dispose-"l in the recess 2-33 and gmniilt-d with a terminal securing screw fill -'.llhis .latc 2'8 is held in it. rece se "solely by the insulating disk 21.

The outer side of the disk 3 stri s the usual screw shell or lamp contact 35 which has inturned flanges 36 fitting against the disk 21 and engaged on the outer side by a U-shaped securing plate 37. The plate 37 is provided with a right angled lug 38 extending into the recess 39 in the base and provided with a terminal securing screw 40. The two arms of the plate 37 have holes which are threaded to receive the threaded ends of the securing screws ll which pass through the holes 42 in opposite sides of the base and are the only means for securing all of the parts together. The base 10 has wire-receiving grooves 43 in line with the terminal screws ill and 40.

Since the construction of the parts nnay. be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, I do not wish to be limited to the exact details illustrated.

What is claimed is:-

1. An electric switch mechanism comprising a base consisting of a block of insulating material having depressions therein and also having a cavity therein, an insulating member secured to aid base. a current conducting element tilt ing in the depressions in the base and held therein by said insulating member, a switch in said cavity. and means for operating said switch to cause it to engage said element.

2. An electric switch mechanism comprising a base consisting of a single block of insulating material having;- depressions therein, and also having a cavity therein and bearing recesses in the bottom of said unit). said cavity being closed at. one end. an insulating disk closing the other nd of said cavity, a. current conducting plate fitting in said depressions and held therein by said disk, said plate extending across the avity, a switch mounted on the inner side of said disk and extending into said cav ity. a witch spindle held in place in said. hearing rccesses, and means operable by said spindle for causing the switch to engage said plate.

3. In an electric switch for key sockets, the combination of a base of insulating material having a cavity therein and a bearing for a spindle in said cavity, a spindle mounted in said bearing, a cam on said spindle, and a switch in said cavity operable by said cam and having a part which extends across said bearing and holds the spindle in place therein.

4. In a key socket, the combinatioi'i of a base of insulating material having a cavitft therein and bearing recesses in said cavity, a. switch spindle rotatable in said bearing recesses, a cam on said spindle between said recesses, and a spring switch in said "avity, said switch being operable by said cam and having a part which extends across one of said bearing recesses to hold the spindle in place therein,

5. In a lamp socket. a base of insulating material having a cavity therein bearing recesses for a switch spindle in the bottom of said cavity and depressions to receive and assist in retaining a current conducting plate on said base.

ti. An electrical appliance comprising a base of insulating material having a recess in one of its faces. a switch spindle in said recess. a cam on said switch spindle. a switch contact plate bridging a part of the recess in the base. an insulating plate closing the recess in the base and litting against the outer side of said contact plate. and a switch in the recess having a part which holds the spindle in place. aid switch being operable by said cum to move it into cngagw ment with said conta t plate.

In testimony \vhereol' l aliix my signaiure. 

